Arupratan Sarma
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AGARTALA, the capital city of Tripura, witnessed a large wave of red flags and banners on March 14. On that day, a huge youth rally was organised jointly by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) state committee and the Tribal Youth Federation (TYF). Thousands of youth coming from different corners of the state took siege of the city avenues and raised a call for protecting the country, the constitution, secularism, right to education and employment besides making a bold appeal against all sorts of drug addiction. People from other sections of the society, including students, women and common people too expressed their solidarity by joining the rally.
By midday, streets around Paradise Choumohani, at the heart of the city were taken over by the youth coming for the rally. A large procession started from the point and proceeded towards the meeting venue braving the strong sunlight and heated atmosphere. The procession was so huge that, when its head reached the meeting venue at Orient Choumohani, its tail was still at the starting point. The air of steely resolve radiating from the participants touched the onlookers and other passers-by too.
Elements of BJP, the ruling party, tried every trick to prevent people from coming from different parts of the state and joining the rally. They even tried to terrorise people besides creating other obstacles. But the people braved all such tactics and took part in the movement. Presence of a very large number of tribal youth coming from even the remote corners of the state was very much noticeable.
The rally was addressed by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Manik Sarkar, Party state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury, DYFI all-India general secretary Himaghnaraj Bhattacharyya, DYFI state secretary Nabarun Deb and TYF central committee general secretary Kumud Deb Barma. Presidium of the meeting comprised DYFI state president Palash Bhowmik and TYF central committee president Koushik Roy Deb Barma.
Manik Sarkar, in his speech, mentioned that the problem of unemployment can never be addressed as long as BJP stays in power at the centre as well as in the state. With BJP in the government, on one hand, price of commodities will always remain out of control for the common people, while on the other hand cultivators will never get fair price for their harvest. Ensuing Lok Sabha election will offer the common people an opportunity to throw this anti-people BJP out of power. In case they are able to form government, whatever is remaining out of our constitution will be destroyed completely. It is one of their aims to establish one-party fascist rule throughout the country. Sarkar called the democracy-loving people of the Tripura to save democracy by defeating BJP. He also mentioned that the true character of the colour-changing chameleons became clear with the result of 2023 assembly elections. Those people were outwardly vocal against the BJP, but were actually in clandestine understanding with them. It is for their hidden assistance to BJP that the party became able to retain power. Sarkar reminded the young citizens that the period of youth is the best time in life. He asked the youth brigade to come forward and hand out a convincing defeat to the oppressive regime of BJP.
Jitendra Chaudhury narrated the continuing misdeeds of the BJP government. He told that the public sector undertakings, banks, insurance are being handed over to the corporate sector at a throw away price. Even the most important government sectors like rail, defence etc are being opened for global corporates to enter. This needs to be stopped immediately for the sake of the country and its people. He also lashed out at the ruling BJP-IPFT-TIPRA alliance by mentioning that the combine cannot find out a suitable candidate from 40 lakh residents. So they are outsourcing even the candidature of Lok Sabha constituency to a resident of another state. For one constituency, BJP has allotted ticket to such an outsider who does not know the state, its language, its culture, and its problems. For another constituency, BJP has nominated a person who was once chief minister of the state. During that time, the person made an all-out effort to establish fascism in the state by destroying every democratic norm. He was on a mission to convert Tripura into a laboratory for destruction of democracy and replacing it with fascism. He was removed from the chair of CM by BJP’s central leadership, the reasons for which are still undisclosed by them. He concluded his speech by making a call for a total rejection of the BJP.
Himaghnaraj Bhattacharyya mentioned that the central budget does not speak even a single word towards employment generation although it is one of the most acute problems in the country. He also told that the scheme MGNREGS, that provides maximum 100 days work to the rural people, was introduced during the first UPA government at the behest of the Left forces. But that scheme too is being undermined by the present BJP government. ColoUrful dreams are being sold by BJP in the name of “double engine government” but the horrible plight of Tripura proves that the so-called “double engine government” is a total failure. Tripura has gone to the top in the whole country, not for any good reason, but for acute unemployment. He also mentioned that, this time they cannot fool the people. The BJP will be taught a good lesson by the people in the ensuing Lok Sabha election. It is high time that the young generation ask for their right to education and right to work, peasants ask for their right to fair price for their harvest, workers ask for their right to fair wages and working conditions, and the common people ask for their right to democracy.
Nabarun Deb, told in his speech that the young people are being kept immersed in drug addiction, so that they cannot ask for their rights. Kumud Deb Barma told the meeting that the persons, who misled people with the issue of ‘Greater Tipraland’, are engrossed in deep corruption. Palash Bhowmik told that the leftists always stay with the people. Koushik Roy Deb Barma reminded the youth brigade that the fight will not stop till BJP is defeated convincingly.
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